A Cat’s View Veterinary Hospital Presents:

The Cat’s Meow S Me

Holidays can be some of the most enjoyable times of the year: a decorated Christmas tree, a ham warming in the oven, the smell of cinnamon pine cones drifting through the house. But some felines have a propensity for mischief and can be more naughty than nice! So if your kitty is on Santa’s naughty list, here’s what you should watch out for and how you can make your home feline friendly for the season!

The Christmas Tree

Christmas trees are the highlights for many households during the holidays. Be sure to keep an eye on your cat, and follow these simple steps to avoid a holiday downer.

Place ornaments out of the reach of your cat. Ornaments, whether plastic or glass, can break if batted by an enthusiastic cat that sees it as a toy. The small pieces from ornaments can be swallowed easily and have the potential to cause blockages in the cat’s digestive tract. These blockages may require surgery to remove, so make sure you place your ornaments on the tree a few feet off the

Holiday Hazards – What to Watch Out For!

Newsletter Highlights:

Holiday Hazards Page 1

Ask the Vet Page 2

Winter Woes Page 3

ground. It also helps to make sure kitty has plenty of her own toys to distract her from the tree ornaments.

Don’t let your cat drink out of the tree stand – especially if you’re feeding the tree a lifetime promoter. These products can give your cat a very upset stomach. Additionally, the stagnant water can house bacteria, which can also lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Placing a tree skirt or a makeshift wall (chicken wire works great!) will help deter your cat from getting in to the tree water.

Hide the light cords! If you decorate your tree with lights, cover the trailing cords with rugs or electrical tape (duct tape works too!). If a cat bites into a light cord, they can get serious electrical burns – and risk sparking a fire or shortening out a circuit. To ensure yours and your feline’s safety, be sure to keep your cords well out of your cat’s reach.

Continued at “Holiday Hazards”, pg 2.

Special Holiday Hours:

Christmas Eve: 9-2pm

Christmas Day: Closed

New Year’s Eve: 9-3 pm

New Year’s Day: Closed

760-749-0099 --- www.acatsviewvet.com

29115 Valley Center Road, Valley Center

A Cat’s View Veterinary Clinic

December 2012

Remember, we offer emergency care for established clients,

even during the holidays! Call us at 760-749-0099 if

your cat needs emergency care.

Regular Hours:

Monday-Friday: 8am-6pm

Saturday: 9am-12pm

Household Decorations

Candles can be a big risk in households with cats. If allowed to burn unsupervised, candles may be knocked over by playful kittens or may burn curious ones. Always make sure you blow out candles when not in the room, or invest in some electric candles.

Pine cones, nuts, and any decorations with small pieces can be quite the attraction to a curious kitty. These can be easily swallowed and may lead to a blocked digestive system, which can become life threatening. Keep these items out of your cat’s reach or do your best to remove the hazard all together.

Tinsel and garland can be dangerous if your cat gets into them. These can get caught in the intestine and may require surgery to remove; they are also chocking hazards. We highly recommend avoiding tinsel in the presence of your feline family.

No Poinsettias! These beautiful and traditional plants are actually

“Holiday Hazards” (continued from page 1)

Some Holiday Humor:

Ask The Vet

The Cat’s Meow, pg 2

poisonous to cats, so buy the equally elegant fabric plants in lieu of the living ones.

Feasts and Guests

Family and food are often the highlight of the holidays. Follow these tips to make sure it’s just as fun for your feline family!

Have arrangements for your cat during family visits. While many cats are comfortable with guests, some get frightened easily and may slip outside when the door is open. If you’re worried that your cat may sneak out, or he/she may be scared of newcomers, make them comfortable in your bedroom or bathroom for the duration of your guest’s visit. If you’re worried someone may open a door and let your cat out, you can always board your cat at A Cat’s View just for the night!

Holiday meals are fantastic for humans, just be sure you keep an eye on your cat. Don’t let them eat any ham bones. Also, onions and garlic (even if in a broth) are toxic to cats.

Dr. Nancy, My beloved Akibono lost 5 pounds and I am a little concerned. Is this something to worry about? He was always overweight in the past and is probably at the right weight now (10 1/2 pounds). What do I do?

-Barbara C I’m glad you sent this in

Barbara. Sudden (especially unexplained) weight loss is certainly a cause for concern.

In the middle to older aged cat, thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism) is a possibility. This happens when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone and speeds up metabolism in your cat’s body. These cats can be losing weight despite increased appetite. Hyper-thyroidism causes the body to go into overdrive and stresses many organs, including the heart. It can cause high blood pressure that can lead to kidney damage, as well as sudden blindness and personality changes. We can diagnose this with a simple blood test and we can manage the syndrome in a few different ways.

Dental disease, kidney disease, diabetes and other internal disease can also cause weight loss. A good detailed physical exam and blood-work usually gives the answer, so I recommend you bring Akibono in for an exam.

-Dr. Nancy

Winter Woes: The Dangers of The Cold, Snow, and Ice (For those clients on Palomar Mountain)

Even though A Cat’s View is located in sunny Valley Center, we have many friends who live on Palomar Mountain or in other regions that

receive snow or frost. Just as with other pets, cats can get hypothermia and frostbite from excessive cold, freezing rain, the

morning frost, or snow! Let’s look at a few of the risks for cats during the cold winter months and what you can do in an emergency.

Ask The Vet (cont. )

Hello Dr. Nancy! One of my colleagues just took his cat in to get her teeth cleaned. I’ve never heard of a cat getting a dental! Is that actually really necessary? Should I bring Mal in?

-Kevin R Absolutely! Cats have as

much potential to get dental disease as other pets, so it’s highly recommended that cats get dental exams and cleanings. Your coworker had it right!

Here’s why. The bottom line is that good dental cleansings can actually add 3 to 5 years of quality life to your cat. Dental disease can cause infection that can spread to other organs, infection behind the eye, pain and difficulty chewing, and chronic inflammation that can lead to kidney failure and cardiovascular disease.

At A Cat’s View, we are proud to offer digital dental x-rays; with this, we can actually spot dental disease below the surface of the teeth (where it often begins in cats). In addition, January is dental health month! During this time, we’ll be offering 20% off all dental services (including dental exams, dental scaling and polishing, dental anesthesia, and dental x-rays).

Once the teeth are cleaned and polished, we can get you going on a good home program to keep your feline’s dental health on track! Starting when Mal is young is helpful; it’ll help prevent expensive dental procedures that may otherwise be required.

Bring him in this month! Remember, 20% off for January!

-Dr. Nancy

Hypothermia What is it? Hypothermia, low body temperature, can result from prolonged exposure to the cold. It is most likely to occur when a cat is wet, like after extended exposure to a cold and chilling rain. (It can also occur in cats who are in shock, or newborn kittens.) This prolonged chilling causes the body to burn available energy as it tries to warm itself and pre-disposes them to low blood sugar. What are the signs? Hypothermia is distinguished by violent shivering, followed by listlessness (lack of energy or interest), lethargy (a state of exhaustion where the cat seems unusually inactive or excessively tired), a body temperature below 97°F, and in extreme cases, coma or collapse. What do I do? If you find your cat shivering outside, wrap him in a blanket or coat and carry him inside. If he’s wet from a cold rain, falling into icy water, or extended snow exposure, you can bathe him in warm water. Then, rub him vigorously with towels to dry. If you have access to warm water packs, wrap them in towels, then place them under the cat’s armpits, chest, and abdomen. They should be about as warm as a baby’s bottle. Use caution if you use a hair-dryer as they can cause burns. If you’re comfortable taking the cat’s rectal temperature, continue warming the cat until his temperature is at 100°F. Bring the cat in to the hospital as soon as possible or call us if you need further emergency care advice.

Frostbite What is it? Frostbite is damage to the skin and underlying tissues caused by extreme cold. It is often accompanied by hypothermia. It most commonly affects the ears, toes, scrotum, and tail, as these areas are the most exposed and only lightly protected by fur. Frostbite occurs when blood circulation to these areas is decreased in response to the cold. If cold blood from these areas reaches the heart, it can cause serious problems, so the body decreases the amount of blood exposed to the cold. In doing so, it predisposes the areas to frostbite. What are the Signs? At first, frost-bitten skin is pale and white. As circulation returns (after warming begins), it turns red and swollen and may later peel. Eventually, it looks much like a burn and will become hardened and brittle. The actual damage may not be apparent for a week or more. Between one to three weeks, the skin may fall off. What do I do? Warm frostbitten areas by immersing in warm (NOT HOT) water for 20 minutes or until the area becomes red. Do not rub or massage the affected area, because the damaged area is easily destroyed. As sensation returns, the areas may be painful. Do not let your cat excessively groom or chew these areas. Also, do not apply an ice pack for pain as this will further damage the tissue. Bring your cat into the hospital as soon as possible for a follow up exam and so that we can provide further treatment.

HOLIDAY PHOTO CONTEST!

Post a photo of your furry feline enjoying the holidays on our Facebook page and

you’ll be entered in a prize give away! The

winner will be selected at random from all

entries.

Post the photos at: www.facebook.com/

acatsviewvet

You can also email us a photo to:

acatsviewvet@gmail.com Put “Facebook

Contest” in the subject title.

Be creative and good

luck!

A Cat’s View Veterinary Hospital

760-749-0099

www.acatsviewvet.com

acatsviewvet@gmail.com

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10% Off Services! Happy Holidays!

On your next visit to A Cat’s View Veterinary Hospital or Spa, receive 10% off your services charge!

A Cat’s View Veterinary Hospital

760-749-0099 ----- acatsviewvet.com ----- acatsviewvet@gmail.com 29115 Valley Center Road, Valley Center, CA 92082

*May not be combined with any other offer* *Must bring coupon in for discount* *Expires March 1, 2013 **One coupon per family please*

The holidays often involve a lot of travel, as well as plenty of festivities. While you’re away or while you

have guests over, be assured your cat has a warm bed, a full belly, and lots of love by boarding them at the Cat’s

View Spa!

Board Your Cat For the Holidays!

I Want A Home For the Holidays Too!

Mention this ad and get a free cat toy!

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